Precision in Crop Farming

1 Introduction; Hermann Heege
2 Heterogeneity in Fields: Basics of Analyses; Hermann Heege
2.1 Variation and Resolution
2.2 Semivariance and Semivariogram
2.3 Cell Sizes
2.4 Processing and Adjusting the Resolution
2.5 References
3 Sensing by Electromagnetic Radiation; Hermann Heege
3.1 Basics in Sensing by Electromagnetic Radiation
3.2 Emitted, Absorbed, Reflected and Transmitted Radiation
3.3 Atmospheric Windows and Clouds
3.4 Sensing from Satellites, Aerial Platforms and Field Machines
3.5 Microwaves or Radar instead of Visible or Infrared Waves
3.6 Using Maps or On-The-Go Control in Real-Time
3.7 Georeferencing by Positioning Systems
3.8 References
4 Precision in Guidance of Farm Machinery; Hermann Heege
4.1 Principles of Guidance
4.2 Techniques of GNSS Based Guidance
4.3 Economics of GNSS Based Guidance
4.4 Problems and Solutions on Slopes
4.5 Precision in Section Control of Farm Machines
4.6 References
5 Sensing of Natural Soil Properties; Hermann Heege
5.1 Sensing of Topography
5.2 Sensing of Soil Properties on a Volume Basis
5.3 Sensing of Soil Properties on a Surface Basis by Reflectance
5.4 Summary
5.5 References
6 Sensing of Crop Properties; Hermann Heege and Eiko Thiessen
6.1 Basics of Sensing by Visible and Infrared Reflectance
6.2 Defining the Reflectance by Indices
6.3 Sensing Yield Potential of Crops by Reflectance
6.4 Fluorescence Sensing
6.5 Sensing the Water Supply of Crops by Infrared Radiation
6.6 Sensing Properties of Crops by Microwaves
6.7 References
7 Site-Specific Soil Cultivation; Hermann Heege
7.1 Basic Needs
7.2 Primary Cultivation
7.3 Secondary Cultivation
7.4 Stubble- and Fallow Cultivation
7.5 No-tillage: Prerequisites, Consequences and Prospects
7.6 References
8 Site-Specific Sowing; Hermann Heege
8.1 Seed-Rate or Seed-Density
8.2 Seed Distribution over the Area
8.3 Seeding Depth
8.4 Less Tillage, Crop Residues and Sowing Methods
8.5 References
9 Site-Specific Fertilizing; Hermann

The editor and main author - Hermann J. Heege - is Professor Emeritus of the University of Kiel and was formerly head of its Department of Agricultural Systems Engineering. He conceived and initiated the worldwide known concept of the "N Sensor". 

The chapter about weed control is from Roland Gerhards, Professor of the University of Stuttgart-Hohenheim. 

Contributions about the use of plant-fluorescence are from Eiko Thiessen, Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Agricultural Systems Engineering of the University of Kiel. 

Markus Demmel from the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture in Freising-Weihenstephan and its section head for System Engineering in Crop Farming is author of the chapter about yield sensing.

From the reviews:

"This well-designed, well-written book covers appropriate topics related to production crop farming anywhere in the world. ... This book can be used in a beginning and/or intermediate precision farming course. It can also serve as a reference in a more comprehensive course or series of courses on precision crop farming. The material presented will enhance students' knowledge of specific production practices. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, researchers/faculty, and professionals/practitioners." (M. K. Swan, Choice, Vol. 51 (8), April, 2014)